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The `Steel Curtain' still No. 1

Published: Saturday, January 20, 2001 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 19, 2001 at 11:00 p.m.

This season's Baltimore Raven defense has drawn comparisons with some of the legendary defenses of years past with their performance this season.

And rightfully so.

The two units that the Ravens have drawn the most comparisons to are the 1986 Chicago Bears, whose record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season (187) was broken by Baltimore's "Birds of Prey" (177), and Pittsburgh's famed "Steel Curtain" defenses of the 1970s.

"Even though they (the Ravens) are a great defense, the No. 1 defense I've seen is still Pittsburgh," said Houma native Frank Lewis. "Those guys were able to rise to occasion after occasion and were always steady."

Very few people are in better position to compare the two defenses than Lewis, who was a wide receiver for the Steelers from 1971-77 before finishing his career with the Buffalo Bills from 1978-83.

Lewis got a chance to see the Steel Curtain up close and personal as the unit played a major role in landing the two Super Bowl championship rings in his possession.

Obviously there are similarities. Both teams' rosters are loaded with talent.

Baltimore has three players headed to the Pro Bowl next month in the league's Defensive Player of the Year Ray Lewis, future Hall of Famer Rod Woodson and sumo-sized tackle Sam Adams.

The Steelers have four Hall of Famers from their squad in "Mean" Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham and Mel Blount.

Both teams are also known for playing a similar style.

"They're real aggressive and physical, I think that's the common ingredient," Frank Lewis said of both defenses. "They play physical football and that's how most of the great defenses play. They're real tenacious and in most cases, you see more than one person around the ball."

But the difference between the two is the Steel Curtain's depth.

In Pittsburgh's 16-6 victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl IX, the Steelers smothered the Vikings, holding them to just nine first downs, and 119 yards of total offense, including a measly 17 yards rushing despite losing Lambert and fellow linebacker Andy Russell to injuries early in the first quarter.

"We had a lot of players whose names will never be mentioned for the Hall of Fame but were strong," Frank Lewis said. "Mel Blount is always mentioned, which he should be, because he had a great career. But there was a gentlemen who played behind Mel named Jimmy Allen, who only hit the field a few times, but when he did, we never lost a beat.

"If the Ravens lose one or two of their (big)-named players when they play the Super Bowl on Sunday (Jan. 28), they'll probably lose the game."

But the Ravens' true measuring stick will come over time.

"They didn't establish having a great defense by having a great season. They had an entire decade of great defense," Frank Lewis said about the Steelers. "So I can't put them (the Ravens) in the same class yet. They'll have to earn it."

<p>This season's Baltimore Raven defense has drawn comparisons with some of the legendary defenses of years past with their performance this season.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>And rightfully so.</p><p>The two units that the Ravens have drawn the most comparisons to are the 1986 Chicago Bears, whose record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season (187) was broken by Baltimore's "Birds of Prey" (177), and Pittsburgh's famed "Steel Curtain" defenses of the 1970s.</p><p>"Even though they (the Ravens) are a great defense, the No. 1 defense I've seen is still Pittsburgh," said Houma native Frank Lewis. "Those guys were able to rise to occasion after occasion and were always steady."</p><p>Very few people are in better position to compare the two defenses than Lewis, who was a wide receiver for the Steelers from 1971-77 before finishing his career with the Buffalo Bills from 1978-83.</p><p>Lewis got a chance to see the Steel Curtain up close and personal as the unit played a major role in landing the two Super Bowl championship rings in his possession.</p><p>Obviously there are similarities. Both teams' rosters are loaded with talent.</p><p>Baltimore has three players headed to the Pro Bowl next month in the league's Defensive Player of the Year Ray Lewis, future Hall of Famer Rod Woodson and sumo-sized tackle Sam Adams.</p><p>The Steelers have four Hall of Famers from their squad in "Mean" Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham and Mel Blount.</p><p>Both teams are also known for playing a similar style.</p><p>"They're real aggressive and physical, I think that's the common ingredient," Frank Lewis said of both defenses. "They play physical football and that's how most of the great defenses play. They're real tenacious and in most cases, you see more than one person around the ball."</p><p>But the difference between the two is the Steel Curtain's depth.</p><p>In Pittsburgh's 16-6 victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl IX, the Steelers smothered the Vikings, holding them to just nine first downs, and 119 yards of total offense, including a measly 17 yards rushing despite losing Lambert and fellow linebacker Andy Russell to injuries early in the first quarter.</p><p>"We had a lot of players whose names will never be mentioned for the Hall of Fame but were strong," Frank Lewis said. "Mel Blount is always mentioned, which he should be, because he had a great career. But there was a gentlemen who played behind Mel named Jimmy Allen, who only hit the field a few times, but when he did, we never lost a beat.</p><p>"If the Ravens lose one or two of their (big)-named players when they play the Super Bowl on Sunday (Jan. 28), they'll probably lose the game."</p><p>But the Ravens' true measuring stick will come over time.</p><p>"They didn't establish having a great defense by having a great season. They had an entire decade of great defense," Frank Lewis said about the Steelers. "So I can't put them (the Ravens) in the same class yet. They'll have to earn it."</p>